Reply to: Do not underestimate the cognitive benefits of exercise
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The prior umbrella review's analyses reinforced the conclusion that the effects of exercise on cognition are inconclusive, even when accounting for moderators.
“These analyses reinforced their conclusion that the effects of exercise on cognition are inconclusive, even when accounting for these moderators.”
From Effectiveness of exercise for improving cognition, memory and executive function: a systematic umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [17]
The prior umbrella review's analyses did not encompass mind-body exercises like yoga or Tai Chi.
“Moreover, the analyses did not encompass mind-body exercises like yoga or Tai Chi, which may confer unique cognitive benefits.”
From Effectiveness of exercise for improving cognition, memory and executive function: a systematic umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [17]
Cites
World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour
Bull, F. C., Al-Ansari, S. S., Biddle, S., Borodulin, K., Buman, M. P., Cardon, G., Carty, C., Chaput, J.-P., Chastin, S., Chou, R., et al. (2020) · British Journal of Sports Medicine · doi:10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955 · Cited by 11,657 · cited 1× · see citing works
“…with the assessment of the certainty of the available evidence contained in the scientific report of the Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Group (see the web annex evidence profiles 3 ), which underpins the World Health Organization guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour 4 .”
Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory
Erickson, K. I., Voss, M. W., Prakash, R. S., Basak, C., Szabo, A., Chaddock, L., Kim, J. S., Heo, S., Alves, H., White, S. M., et al. (2011) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1015950108 · Cited by 4,855 · see citing works
Can cognitive processes be inferred from neuroimaging data?
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Correcting for Bias in Psychology: A Comparison of Meta-Analytic Methods
Carter, E. C., Schönbrodt, F. D., Gervais, W. M., & Hilgard, J. (2019) · Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/2515245919847196 · Cited by 588 · see citing works
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An umbrella review of randomized control trials on the effects of physical exercise on cognition
Ciria, L. F., Román-Caballero, R., Vadillo, M. A., Holgado, D., Luque-Casado, A., Perakakis, P., & Sanabria, D. (2023) · Nature Human Behaviour · doi:10.1038/s41562-023-01554-4 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Self-citationThe effect of regular exercise on cognitive functioning and personality.
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Human dopaminergic system in the exercise-cognition link
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Do not underestimate the cognitive benefits of exercise
Dupuy, O., Ludyga, S., Ortega, F. B., Hillman, C. H., Erickson, K. I., Herold, F., Kamijo, K., Wang, C., Morris, T. P., Brown, B. M., et al. (2024) · Nature Human Behaviour · doi:10.1038/s41562-024-01949-x · Cited by 34 · see citing works
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Biomarkers of aging: from molecules and surrogates to physiology and function
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Characterizing the cognitive and mental health benefits of exercise and video game playing
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- Authors
- Ciria, L. F., Román-Caballero, R., Vadillo, M. A., Holgado, D., Luque-Casado, A., Perakakis, P., & Sanabria, D.
- Affiliations
- Universidad de Granada (ES)
- Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (ES)
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid (ES)
- Corresponding author
- Sanabria, Daniel
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nature Human Behaviour
- Published
- 2024-08-20
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1464-1466
- ISSN
- 2397-3374 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4401729534
- Cited by
- 6
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- Nature Human Behaviour (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- BURJC Digital (King Juan Carlos University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Hispana (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- IRIS (submittedVersion)
- Biblos-e Archivo (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) (submittedVersion)
- SERVAL (Université de Lausanne) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Keywords
- physical activity, cognitive function, older adults, effect size heterogeneity, cognitive aging, sedentary behavior, physical activity guidelines
- MeSH terms
- Cognition, Humans, Exercise
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